Analysis: Breaking down David Pastrnak's first career hat trick

Even though the final goal to complete his first career hat trick was an empty-netter, Bruins' David Pastrnak earned his three-goal performance during Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

The Bruins erased a three-goal deficit and scored five unanswered goals in the third period en route to the dramatic comeback victory. Pastrnak scored Boston's third, fifth and sixth goals. Fortunately for the Bruins, No. 88 was a different player in the final 20 minutes compared to the first 40.

At times, Pastrnak has a tendency to do too much with the puck. When it works, we describe him as dynamic. When it doesn't, we say he's being too cute. He's still learning to find that balance. He's also focused on improving his defensive game too. Discussions between Pastrnak and Bruce Cassidy have covered all the above.



No doubt Pastrnak was a difference-maker in the third period against the Hurricanes. It actually started with a miscue only 51 seconds into final period that led to Carolina's shorthand goal for a 4-1 lead. He turned over the puck in the offensive zone and the Hurricanes' Brock McGinn capitalized at the other end. It was a terrible way to start the period for the Bruins.

It seemed as though this game would land in the loss column for Boston, especially without the services of Zdeno Chara, Jake DeBrusk and Torey Krug, all of whom suffered injuries in the third period and never returned. It turned out to be a breakthrough game for Pastrnak from a maturity standpoint. He worked for all three of his goals, including the empty-netter to produce another character win for the Bruins.

Pastrnak's first goal cut Boston's deficit to one when he scored at 11:00 of the third period with an assist from linemate Brad Marchand. Of the three goals, this one is the most impressive from start to finish for a variety of reasons. First, Pastrnak wins a battle along the wall just inside the blue line to keep the puck in the offensive zone and quickly moves it to Marchand. Next, is my favorite part of this goal: Pastrnak uses three explosive strides to create time and space before receiving the puck back from Marchand. Pastrnak regains control inside the top of the right faceoff circle. Linemate Riley Nash is setting a screen a few feet in front of Pastrnak, who patiently waits until he has a shooting lane and then unleashes a wicked wrister, beating goalie Cam Ward to the high glove on the short side. It was a goal scorer's goal.

After the Bruins' Danton Heinen scored 21 seconds later to tie the game at 4-4, it was Pastrnak's power-play goal at 16:30 that proved to be the game-winning tally.

There are certain players in the NHL -- the Capitals' Alex Ovechkin and the Lightning's Steven Stamkos -- that have made a living scoring power-play goal from the same spot on the ice. They camp out in the left faceoff circle and wait for a pass to unleash a one-timer. Everyone in the hockey world knows it's coming, but those two still have the ability to score from that spot. Pastrnak is learning how to do the same. While Ovechkin and Stamkos are consistent, Pastrnak is either spot on, shoots wide or fans all together on the one-time attempt.

On Tuesday, he got all of it.

The Bruins created a sustained pressure in the O-zone during the man-advantage when Rick Nash won a puck battle in the corner and quickly moved it to Marchand along the right wall. Normally, Krug would be working the point, but he was in the locker room due to injury. So, rookie defenseman Matt Grzelcyk was working the point on the PP because he has the hockey IQ and puck management ability. Marchand moved the puck back to Grzelcyk, who as a left-handed shot, was on his forehand and able to quickly transfer it to Pastrnak. He was already locked into his shooting position and unloaded a one-timer from the left faceoff circle that beat Ward for the go-ahead goal. Part of this sequence that could go unnoticed is the fact that Rick Nash, after he made the pass to Marchand, quickly crashed the net. Ward knew Nash was on the doorstep, looking for the rebound, and it could have distracted the goalie for a split second.

Pastrnak's empty-netter came at 18:26 and secured the Bruins' 6-4 win. With Ward on the bench, the Hurricanes had the puck deep in the offensive zone. While defenseman Kevan Miller, Riley Nash and Marchand were battling for the puck in the corner and along the wall, Pastrnak positioned himself perfectly in front of Tuukka Rask. At this point, Pastrnak isn't thinking about a hat trick; he concerned with his defensive game and protecting a possible backdoor attempt by Carolina.

As soon as Riley Nash gains possession, Pastrnak transitions into offense and uses his explosive stride to gain the neutral zone, wins the race to the puck and shoots from just inside the red line and drains the empty-netter to complete the hat trick.

Pastrnak was relentless, focused and motivated on all three goals. If he can do that on a more consistent basis, he could become one of the most dynamic players in the NHL in the same category as Ovechkin and Stamkos.